Cataract Referral Policy, Hemel Ophthalmology, CPD, IT Connectivity Statement, Vacancy, FODO News

13 October 2022

We have 7 items for you today:

1. Hemel Hempstead Hospital Ophthalmology Clinics / Herts Valleys CCG area 
   Please note that there are no longer any ophthalmology clinics running at Hemel Hempstead hospital. These clinics used to be organised via Stoke Mandeville.

   It appears that some of these patients may not have been assessed for a couple of years and are now presenting themselves in optometry practices for eye examinations. Please can you either refer them in to CHEC for review or advise them to contact Stoke Mandeville in order for them to continue their care, if they prefer.

2. Herts & W Essex Cataract Referral Policy Updated
   Here is the updated cataract referral policy from Herts and West Essex ICB which went live on Friday 23^rd September 2022. It no longer includes the visual acuity criterion and is now based on the patient having significant visual symptoms confirmed to be due to cataract. These visual symptoms need to be impairing the patient’s activities of daily living, and it should be anticipated that this will be improved by surgery.  Examples listed are that the patient is at significant risk of falls, or the patient’s vision is affecting their ability to drive, or substantially affecting their ability to work and so on.

   There is also a section on second eye surgery should be deemed urgent when there is resultant anisometropia (a large refractive difference between the two eyes of 2 ½ dioptres) which would result in poor binocular vision or diplopia (this should be clearly recorded in the patient’s notes).

   We do recommend you read the short document in full:
   https://hertsandwestessex.icb.nhs.uk/downloads/file/74/cataract-surgery

3. Full Time / Part-time Vacancies for an Optometrist and a DO/CLO/OA
   
   Full Time / Part-time Optometrist and DO/CLO/OA required for Enhanced Optical Services, an independent practice in St Albans. This is to enable succession planning with other business opportunities to be discussed. Please contact John Snelgrove for an informal discussion on 01727 817132 or email john.snelgrove1@btinternet.com
4. CPD – “Updates in Ophthalmology” Online Meeting
   Scope Eyecare are holding an online meeting on Wednesday 28^th September from 7pm – 8.15pm. They advise:

   “This interactive educational meeting will be chaired by Consultant Ophthalmologist Mr Gok Ratnarajan and will include 2 engaging 20-minute talks followed by panel discussions and an Audience Q&A with our excellent speakers. Royal College of Ophthalmology and GOC points will awarded for this meeting.

   Our Speakers for this virtual meeting will include:

   Ms Bita Manzouri – Consultant Ophthalmic surgeon and Corneal Specialist  – Queens Hospital, Romford – Management of Corneal Endothelial Dystrophy

   Mrs Anshoo Choudary – Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Glaucoma Specialist – Royal Liverpool University Hospital – Driving and Glaucoma – Recent Updates

   Further details and a link to register can be downloaded HERE.“

5. CPD – Diagnosing & Monitoring Glaucoma with OCT
   
   Hoya are running another CPD webinar, “Diagnosing & Monitoring Glaucoma with OCT – An Optometrists Perspective” with one interactive CPD Point for Optoms and DOs. They say that the presentation is primarily aimed at Optometrists and DOs with an interest in OCT and Glaucoma and will cover:

   • Travel through the anterior segment to assess for narrowing angles using OCT.

   • OCT to assess corneal thickness.

   • OCT to monitor ganglion cell and retinal nerve fibre thickness.

   • How to measure ganglion cell distress.

   • Visual field analysis for glaucoma damage.

   • Case histories of narrow-angle glaucoma

   • Case histories of pigment dispersion, pseudo exfoliation and a variety of other forms of glaucoma

   The registration page can be found HERE. They advise that  “After registering, you will receive a unique confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar, please do not share the confirmation email”

6. Optical Bodies IT Connectivity Statement
   The joint optical bodies (ABDO, AOP, FODO and LOCSU) have issued a statement regarding IT connectivity for eye care services in England, which can be downloaded HERE.
7. FODO News
   Is HERE, including the Mini Budget, Govt help with Energy Bills, VAT update and GOC news.

Kind regards

Herts LOC